I find it is mainly a game of luck:
Every card you pull from the deck or the piles has an adverse effect later on in the game whether you know it at the time. Example: You have two 4s laid out on piles and you have a 5 to place 1 of them on. Under each 4 is a random card that may or may not benefit you. You pick the furthest to the right 4 and end up with a card that totally wrecks your ability to progress in the game. You will never know what was under the other 4, but there is a good assumption that it probably would have helped you more than the one you picked. Same goes for pulling a card from the deck (where each card you pull effects which ones youll get next time around in 3card).
Some tips I usually go by (some of which already mentioned!):
1. Never stack away any cards into upper right unless you have a good reason to. Without reason, all cards should remain in piles (except aces).
2. If you get stuck and the game looks over, try to stack as many cards in the upper right as possible. Sometimes this will allow you to continue on, but if not, you can still break even.
3. Always pull from piles instead of deck when given the chance. (Cards get stuck at the bottom of piles very easily when you pull from deck a lot).